The Collaborators
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RANDY BAKER - Creator of “My
Green Eyes”, songwriter, musician
Randy has been writing and performing his
songs since he was a kid. In school he was a ‘singer/songwriter’ at any talent
show he could enter. Then he ran away to California to start an all-originals
rock band, ‘The Dominant Traits’. He played in a couple of bands after that and
some of the material for this rock opera was ‘borrowed’ from that period. Since
returning to Minnesota, he has written and performed songs with ‘The Wingers’
and ‘The Judson Rock Ensemble’. This is his first musical theater production as
a writer and producer, still he is getting by with a little help from his
friends!
DOUG WEATHERHEAD - Collaborator, songwriter, musician
Doug Weatherhead has been playing, writing and recording music for over 30
years. He sings and plays many instruments. His main instruments are keyboards
and saxophone. Doug has played with many bands over the years and has also
played and recorded as a solo performer. He has written and recorded dozens of
songs and is currently composing a requiem. He has been working with Randy Baker
for about 10 years on My Green Eyes. He is the music director of the production
and will be playing keyboards in the band.
PAM JOERN - Director
Pam Joern has had six plays produced in the Twin Cities area, most recently
(“Whatever Happened to Alice James?”) as part of Illusion Theater’s 2004
Fresh Ink Series. She was co-founder of Role Over Productions, a non-profit
theater company in the late 80’s. She had had short stories published in a
number of literary journals including “Running in Place” forthcoming in the
January 2006 issue of Minnesota Monthly. Her first novel, The Floor of the
Sky, will be published by the University of Nebraska Press in the fall of
2006. She teaches writing at the Loft Literary Center. She and her
husband, Brad, live in South Minneapolis and have two grown daughters, both
of whom plan to be married in the coming year.
The Cast
SAMUEL AHERN - Luke (the Prodigal Son)
Sam is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful group of people and singing
these fantastic songs. He enjoyed his theatre experience in high school and
college, and more recently in a variety of local community theatre
productions, but his dream has always been to be a rock star. This show
gets him as close as he’s ever been!
SCOTT ULRING - Jacob (brother)
Scott’s theatrical experience includes Illusion Theater’s traveling
performance group, Touch Troupe, and Luther College productions of West Side
Story and Lysistrata. A songwriter, vocalist and guitar player, Scott
enjoys writing music for liturgical settings, as well as in the Folk
tradition. Hobbies include writing, canoeing, cross country skiing and
coaching soccer. When not at their cabin in northern Minnesota, Scott lives
in Golden Valley with his wife, Ann, and their two children, Jane and Adam.
He’s looking forward to his debut on the Judson stage.
BOB CLAGUE - John (father)
After a 20+ year lull in theatrical performance, Bob happily returns to the
stage for “My Green Eyes.” Many high school productions many years ago were fun,
but none had the additional satisfaction of making a friend’s creation come to
life. Bob sings in the Judson church choir and “Gospel Five” ensemble, and is
happy to dabble in rock music for the first time in this production. As a
stay-at-home father, Bob manages the laundry, the cooking and the homework and
tries get into his wood shop and be creative too. A sometimes writer and
bagpiper, Bob can’t seem to settle for long in any one creative arena – and
that’s just fine with him.
CHAR ENGEN - Sophia (mother)
Char Engen has been an acoustic performing musician since her early teens, and a
songwriter for nearly as long. She performed with a folk/alt. trio in
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Montana that was also featured on a live tour
with Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Simply Folk” show with Judy Rose. Since moving to
Minnesota she has appeared on KFAI Radio, opened for national touring acts for
the Ginkho Coffeehouse Concert Series, coordinated music and entertainment and
performed for art and music festivals, and the Minnesota Association of
Songwriters, collaborated with Wingfaerie/DreamLab Theater company as Composer
in Residence and Sound Designer for several seasons, spent most of one school
year in a Minneapolis charter school as Musician/Songwriter in Residence, and
finally, last year completed recording her debut CD, “If You’re Gonna Ask”.
Currently she enjoys a day job in customer service for a sign manufacturer, a
weekend gig helping with the children’s music program at Judson church, and as
many coffeehouse and art fest gigs as she can manage to book into an already
full calendar. The opportunity to have a part in an original rock opera has
been a very exciting prospect, even several years ago when Randy was tentatively
seeking out feedback for his work-in-progress. Char is happy to have a very
“operatic” role: dead, but still singing….
KRISTIN VANN - Veronica (Agricultural Extension agent)
This is Kristin’s first experience performing in musical theatre. She is
primarily an active classical musician (vocalist and pianist) at church in
Minneapolis, periodically presenting recitals. She currently sings with the
professional chorus, The Sacred Voice, and is an alumnus of VocalEssence
and The St. Olaf Choir. Principal teachers have been Cathy McCord-Larsen,
Geraldine Braden and Anne Young for voice; Yakov Gelfand and Paul Wirth for
piano. Along the way she has dabbled in violin, cello, dance, figure
skating and modeling. She pays the bills as a paralegal in the financial
services industry doing legal compliance work, adores her two
“fur-children”, Blue (cat) and Sasha (dog), quietly practices yoga and for
adventure likes to travel.
ROBERT KRAEMER - The ImpresarioRobert played Frank
n’ Furter in the musical stage version of The Rocky Horror Show in 2000. He is
trained in tap and has taken acting classes in Los Angeles. He enjoys written
works by David Sedaris, Augusten Burroughs and James Frey.
ROB STEALCHEAT (Luke’s Band)
Rob has been on the Minneapolis music scene for 15 years and is drummer for the
Overcomers Gospel Band. He has also been singer, songwriter and guitar player
for Poosa, Touchy Feely and Squidballs. In addition, he has written three books
and built one log cabin.
MONICA LEWIS (Luke’s Band)
Monica Lewis sings and plays piano and electric bass. She has been in several
rock bands and has been "type cast" in My Green Eyes as a bass player in a rock
band. She enjoys singing in the Judson Choir and in some of the alternative
music groups at Judson. Being a true ham, she is looking forward to her first
theatrical performance. She lives in Northeast Minneapolis with her little dog
Carmen and her wonderfully talented husband, Doug Weatherhead.
HOLLY SCHRAMM (Luke's Band)
Holly is a singer/songwriter. She performs her
eclectic pop repertoire mostly within a one mile radius of her home. Her CD "In
the Air" came out in the summer of 2003. Her song "Falling" has been heard on
NPR and WCCO radio. Holly's life revolves around her and her husbands
chiropractic clinic in St. Louis Park, her two sons (lots of Southwest Hockey
Association games) and Yoga. The addition of "Green Eyes" is truly a joy.
CLAY GUSTAFSON - Farmhand
Clay has been involved in theatre since 2004 and
in his words “is hooked.” He had roles in St. Anthony Community Theater’s
productions of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in 2004 and “Into
the Woods” in 2005. He sings in the Judson choir and is also a member of
Judson’s Gospel Five and says he “loves it!”
LARRY WEAVER - Ed, a Farmhand and Veronica's
Father
Larry’s been singing since he was five years old,
having taken voice lessons at an early age from Phyllis Weaver and later with
Otto Jellison. He currently sings tenor in the Judson Choir and “Gospel Five”
Men’s Gospel Quartet. Larry has been a member of the University of Minnesota
Chorus, Minnetonka Symphony Chorus, Minnetonka Chamber Singers, Anoka-Ramsey
College Choir and the Meister Singers touring group. He has taken theatre and
drama courses and performed in musical productions in college.
LORI CLAUSEN - This is Lori Clausen’s
second play performance. She previously was one of the Picka- Little Ladies in
“The Music Man” at The Applause Community Theater in Burnsville. She is honored
to be part of the first performance of “My Green Eyes.” Lori is a veteran vocal
performer having done both solo and small groups in South Dakota and Minnesota.
She studies voice at MacPhail Center for the Performing Arts and directs the
children’s choir at her church. Lori lives “down on the farm” in Elko with her
husband LeRoy. They have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Lori dedicates this
performance to the memory of the other family Thespian, her nephew Eric.
JACKIE THURESON - is a long-time member of
Judson and has enjoyed years of singing alto in the Judson choir and serving in
other capacities at the church as well. Other interests include reading (17
years in a book group that faithfully meets monthly), walking, gardening, and
photography. By day, Jackie works for a large financial services company as a
process consultant. My Green Eyes is her first theatrical venture since playing
the role of a court reporter in a high school production. Needless to say, her
role as a hand in My Green Eyes is more challenging -- especially singing and
dancing at the same time. Jackie wishes to thank Randy, Doug, Pam and Sarah, for
sharing their gifts and teaching her so much.
JIM KUETHER - My Green Eyes marks Jim's
return to the stage after a 15-year absence. Previously, Jim has appeared in
more than 40 productions, including Grease, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof,
Godspell, The Fantastiks, No Exit and How The Other Half Loves. Jim is an
accomplished visual artist whose award-winning watercolors and photography have
been exhibited across the country. He has also just completed writing his first
novel. You can see Jim's artwork at his website at
www.kuetherfineart.com
LOLA PARR (Impresario's Goon) heard a
preview of the music to My Green Eyes a few years ago in Pam Joern's living room
and feels honored and excited to be among the cast and crew to bring this rock
opera to an audience. Having been a life long admirer of Bob Fosse's
choreography, she is also thrilled to finally have a excuse to use "jazz hands"
on stage. "Many thanks to Randy Baker for allowing us all to come along with him
on his creative journey. Dreams do come true --- believe it!"
Pit Band
ANDY KRAUSE - Bass Guitar
Andy has been a
professional musician for roughly 25 yrs. having worked with many artists and
bands from the area. Most notably Andy worked with the Daisy Dillman Band, the
Del Counts, Grammy award nominee, Paulette Carlson and Highway 101, Mary Jane
Alm, and the Thunder Road Band just to name a few. He has also worked
extensively behind the scenes in the commercial market having written, produced
and performed on many radio commercials throughout the world. "As a performer,
one of my more memorable experiences was my work as an entertainer aboard the
Holland America cruise line in Alaska. Very fun!!"
BRAD JOERN - Acoustic Guitar
Brad started playing musical instruments in the
fifth grade, and played in the band all through high school and college. He
first started playing guitar in his mid-twenties when he and his wife, Pam, were
asked to lead a high school group at their church. Some of the kids taught him
how to play. He then played off and on until the “Wingers” rock ensemble started
at Judson about 10 years ago. My Green Eyes is his first experience with a
theater production of any kind since high school. In Brad’s words: “I am having
a great time with this music, and mostly just stand in awe of my fellow
musicians. What a collection of talent! About two years ago, I sang the part of
the Father in a formal "sing through" of the opera. It was great fun, and to see
the work come this far is very gratifying. My thanks go out to Randy for his
vision, hard work, and community spirit. Thanks also to Doug Weatherhead for his
tireless effort at helping bring the music to life.”
VAN JOHNSON - Electric Guitar
Van started playing guitar in
1979. In addition to his "day job" at Famous Dave's BBQ, he has played in a
variety of bands over the years. Most of them have been rock and roll
bands but his music has varied to include soul, country, and R&B music. Van
goes to church at Judson and plays music there with the choir occasionally and
as a member of the "Wingers" Judson Rock Ensemble. Van lives in Minneapolis
with his wife, Katie, and their sons, Hendrix and Coltrane.
MITCH PATTRIN - Guitar
Mitch has been playing guitar for
about 9 years. He received an AAS
degree in Guitar Performance from Music Tech College and is currently
playing in the rock bands “Perfect Enemy” and “Out There.”
SCOTT SIMPSON - Percussion
Scott has been passionate
about drums since age 10 and played throughout his school years. He toured
Russia with the University of Minnesota Band under the direction of Dr. Frank
Bencriscuto and Stan Freese. Scott backed up Dizzy Gillespie, Gladys Knight and
the Pips, Pat Boone and Rich Little. He was also percussionist for 7 years at
the Guthrie Theatre and is honored to play “My Green Eyes.”
DOUG WEATHERHEAD - Keyboard
Doug Weatherhead has been playing, writing and recording music for over 30
years. He sings and plays many instruments. His main instruments are keyboards
and saxophone. Doug has played with many bands over the years and has also
played and recorded as a solo performer. He has written and recorded dozens of
songs and is currently composing a requiem. He has been working with Randy Baker
for about 10 years on My Green Eyes. He is the music director of the production
and will be playing keyboards in the band.
BEAU BAKER - Percussion Age 13,
Beau began his drumming career by banging on his
high-chair tray
with a spoon. He began taking drum lessons at age 6 and made his stage debut
with the Judson Wingers the next year at a farewell performance for Pastor Dale
Edmondson. He currently plays percussion in the Judson Orchestra, tenor
saxophone in his school band, and drums in his basement band, "Satellite Bingo."
He hopes to become a professional rock and roll drummer when he grows up. Or a
professional tennis player. Or a pilot. Whatever.
SARAH BAKER - Choreography
Sarah was involved in the Urban Arts Dance Program at Minnesota Dance Theatre in
high school and college. Although not actively involved in dance in the last
couple of decades, she has always enjoyed choreographing in her head - unimpeded
by things like gravity and anatomy. "It was fun to have the chance to
collaborate with this creative group, complete with joints and weight."
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